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Welcome to ESU!

East Stroudsburg Normal School opened it doors on September 4, 1893. Today, ESU is a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate and 22 graduate degrees and is one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Career Successes

Career possibilities for a person with this major are quite numerous because Recreation Services Management encompasses a wide variety of recreation-related settings.

Leisure services are offered through many local governments (city, township, county)-- this is referred to as municipal or community recreation. Municipal parks and playgrounds, seasonal sports programs, community fitness centers, and special events are some of the types of services offered. Majors in our department may pursue a career as a municipal park and recreation director.

Another popular service provider of leisure services in the community are organizations such as YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others. A student in our major may prepare for a rewarding management career in one of these private, not-for-profit agencies.

Students with an interest in the outdoors may pursue careers in outdoor recreation or outdoor adventure.They would provide opportunities in outdoor environments such as camps, parks, or nature centers. In such settings, employment may be as a state park manager, a nature center director, a national park ranger, natural interpreter, youth camp director, an environmental education specialist, or outdoor adventure leader.

Another career employment area is commercial recreation and event planning. Employment possibilities are available at resorts, ski areas, special event companies, theme parks, cruise lines and wedding venues.

Career opportunities also exist within the area of therapeutic recreation. Recreation therapists work in a variety of settings such as rehabilitation, pediatric, psychiatric hospitals, residential facilities, long-term care facilities, and community programs. In this specialty area, recreation enables a person with a disability to improve his/her level of functioning and quality of life.